Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Reading is a learning tool more powerful than watching movies: Actor Pankaj Tripathi at IFFI 53 Masterclass
“You become a better person by playing various characters, by accepting the best and rejecting the worst traits from the characters”
“Acting is as much about showing emotion as it is about hiding it”
#IFFIWood, November 21, 2022
If music be the food of love implies that we play on, then the much-loved and eminently accessible Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi would have us believe that reading is the food of lifelong learning. Yes, that is what inspires the versatile actor to play on, to read from an eclectic array of disciplines to better understand the world without as well as that within.
Well, #NotJust that. The effortlessly natural actor who strikes an almost-instant chord with the audience informs us that his love of reading not only aids his perennial education, but that it is a learning aid more potent even than watching movies.
Wait, how do we know that? Tripathi raised this timeless toast to the power of reading, during the ongoing IFFI, the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India, in Goa, on November 21, 2022. Festival delegates attending the spirited IFFI 53 Masterclass found themselves having to confront the contrarian truth in no uncertain terms. “Visual fixes reference, but reading opens up imagination. I like to read on varied subjects including history and psychology which helps me to understand myself with renewed clarity.”
Pankaj Tripathi, who is known for the portrayal of iconic characters including Sultan Qureshi from the movie Gangs of Wasseypur, underlined the crucial role of continuous learning, patience and observation in achieving mastery. “Learning is a continuous process in becoming the master of any craft. It takes years to prepare an actor; nothing can replace sheer patience and hard work. Observing life and paying attention to your surroundings is a must in the quest to fulfil our aspirations.” The actor shared these insights, while addressing film enthusiasts at an IFFI 53 masterclass on ‘The Craft of Cinema – Character Development’.
The actor who is known for his natural acting and down-to-earth personality said there was a gap of 8 years between his first movie and the next. Even in that phase, he never got bogged down by the uncertainties which life presented to him; rather, he informs that he utilised the time to evolve and add material to his craft of acting, by living and breathing the passion for acting.
The actor throws light on the crafts he adds in his character development. He brought out the importance of both showing and hiding emotions, observing that acting is as much about showing emotion as it is about hiding it. “Endorsing economy of gesture is important in acting.”
The actor shared his views on the relationship between characters and the difficulty in bringing them alive in an authentic manner. “Characters can be same, but challenges and stories will be different. Black-and-white characters are easy to portray. Portraying grey is the real challenge, since the traits are not visible to all.”
How does he go about improvising a character based on his reading of the script? This is what Pankaj Tripathi has to say: “I improvise the character with the permission of the director, after communicating the purpose of improvisation. The director is the captain of the ship, it is he who will give the final take on my suggestion.”
Responding to the query of a budding actor on how training in acting would help in one’s career, the actor said, “training helps you with your performances, but it can’t guarantee casting.”
Ok, now how does he choose movies and characters? In his signature style oozing with simplicity, the actor said that there is no formula for success in acting or life in general. “I just do and choose the characters which I feel happy about.”
The actor went beyond success and spoke about the transformative potential of films as a tool in making him a better person. This is what the charismatic actor says: “The relation between an actor and the characters is always relevant. You become a better person by playing various characters, by accepting the best and rejecting the worst traits from the characters.”
When asked about the role being played by OTT platforms in the new era of film-making, the actor who is known as the King of Streaming said: “OTTs are giving chance to talented individuals like never before; such talents are investing their heart and soul in building extraordinary crafts.”
These are some of the nuggets of inspiration which we could capture from the masterclass by the acclaimed actor who changed the definition of stardom, who is well-known among cine lovers as an actor who simply lives every character he plays.
What do you find inspiring? What did we miss? Why don’t you share your thoughts on social media, using the hashtag #IFFIInspires?
The Masterclasses and in-conversation sessions at IFFI 53 were organized by Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, NFDC, Film and Television Institute of India and ESG. The sessions encourage the students and enthusiasts of cinema to hone their understanding and appreciation of various aspects of filmmaking.